Fsu Relives Nightmare: It's Wide Right Iv

ORANGE BOWL

Another Missed Field Goal In The 4th Quarter Helps Miami Squeeze Past The Seminoles.

January 2, 2004|By Josh Robbins, Sentinel Staff Writer

MIAMI -- It happened again.

The Miami-Florida State rivalry, which has been marked by potential game-winning or game-tying field goals missed by FSU kickers over the years, once again ended in disappointment for the Seminoles and elation for the Hurricanes.

Just call the 2004 Orange Bowl "Wide Right IV."

FSU's Xavier Beitia missed a 39-yard attempt that would have given the Seminoles a one-point lead with 5:30 left in the fourth quarter, and the Hurricanes held on for a 16-14 victory Thursday night in front of 76,739 at Pro Player Stadium.

"When I kicked it, I thought it was good," Beitia said. "Usually when I miss, I don't hit it as well as this one. I kicked it right over the right upright."

Beitia's miss was the fifth time since 1991 that a FSU kicker missed a key fourth-quarter field goal against the Hurricanes. In 2002, Beitia missed a 43-yarder wide left as time expired; Miami won that one 28-27.

"I don't know of any rivalry in the nation where so many of the games came down to a missed kick," FSU Coach Bobby Bowden said. "I have a hard time understanding it."

Thursday's win was No. 10 Miami's fifth consecutive victory in the rivalry -- its longest winning streak in the series since 1957. No. 9 FSU lost consecutive bowl games for the first time since the 1979 and '80 seasons; the Seminoles lost both those games to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.

Miami redshirt freshman Jon Peattie made field goals of 32, 44 and 51 yards. But Peattie had his fourth try of the game blocked by FSU's B.J. Ward.

That block set the stage for one last rally by FSU (10-3). But after advancing to Miami's 48-yard line, the Seminoles committed pass-interference and holding penalties, which forced them into a first-and-30 situation from their 27. FSU's hopes ended with an incomplete pass from Chris Rix to P.K. Sam along the left sideline.

"Like I told the players, the difference in the game was one play," said Bowden, who added that he wasn't referring only to Beitia's missed field goal. "It wasn't like they beat the heck out of us."

The Hurricanes (11-2) reached the 11-victory plateau for the fourth time in a row.

The Hurricanes beat the Seminoles 22-14 earlier this season in Tallahassee. The teams meet again Labor Day weekend in the opener to their '04 seasons in a game that will mark Miami's debut as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Earlier, the spotlight was on Miami senior tailback Jarrett Payton, who finished with 131 yards on 22 carries. He was named the game's MVP.

"To be honest with you, this was my goal: to get the MVP and to go out on top," Payton said. "My dad [the late Walter Payton] always told me you never know what's going to happen, but you've just got to keep on pushing and keep on pushing."

The Hurricanes outgained FSU 375-206. UM ran for 218 yards.

Rix finished 6-of-19 for 96 yards, including 2-of-12 for 18 yards in the second half.

"You had two great defenses out there," Bowden said. "It was really down to who made the fewest mistakes was going to win."